Electrical switch assembly



1957 D. WOLKOV ELECTRICAL SWITCH ASSEMBLY Filed April 2, 1956 I N V ENTOR. 04m /4 01 /\0 1 BY Arrow 5y;

ELECTRICAL SWITCH ASSEMBLY David Wolkov, Hicksville, N. Y., assignor toSuperior Magneto Corporation, Long Island City, N. Y., a corporation ofNew York Application April 2, 1956, Serial No. 575,504 6 Claims. (Cl.200-157) The present invention relates generally to electrical switchassemblies and more particularly to switch assemblies incorporatedwithin a manual grip and controllable by separate fingers of theoperators hand.

It is known to install electrical switches in grip members which may begrasped in the hand of an operator, the switches being operated bypush-buttons and the like projecting from the body of the grip. From thestandpoint of human engineering it has been found that where the samebutton is used both to actuate and de-actuate the switch, thepossibility of operational error is increased. Moreover, switchescontrolled by a single button usually require springs, washers andguides to lock-out the switch.

Accordingly, it is the main object of this invention to provide in agrip a switch assembly having separate finger operated means to actuateand de-actuate the switch. A significant feature of the inventionresides in the fact that the normal positions assumed by the fingers fthe hand when holding the grip are conveniently related to the positionsof the switch control means to facilitate the rapid operation thereof. Aswitch assembly based on the invention may be readily operated even whenthe user is wearing heavy gloves.

More specifically it is an object of the invention to provide a switchassembly wherein the switch may be locked-out without the use ofsprings, washers, or guides, as are entailed in conventionalarrangements. Thus a switch assembly in accordance with the invention isof relatively simple and eflicient design and may be manufactured at lowcost. Also an object of the invention is to provide within a griphousing a push-switch assembly in cooperative relationship wherebyactuation of the trigger switch serves simultaneously to de-actuate thepush-switch.

For a better understanding of the invention, as well as other objectsand further features thereof, reference is made to the followingdetailed description thereof to be read in conjunction with theaccompanying drawing wherein like components in these figures arerepresented by like reference numerals.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a front view, partially in section, of a grip having switchassemblies installed therein in accordance with the invention.

. Fig. 2 is a view taken along lines 22 in Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a grip of hollowconstruction comprising a handle portion 10a, whose exterior walls arecorrugated or otherwise roughened to facilitate handling, and a housingportion 10b. Mounted within housing 10b at the upper end thereof is apush-switch assembly, generally designated by numeral 11, and mountedtherebelow is a trigger-switch assembly 12.

Push-switch assembly 11 includes a microswitch 13, supported on abracket 14 secured by screws or other means to the wall of the housing.Microswitch 13 is of conventional design and includes an actuator pin 15projecting from a point adjacent the upper left comb 2,812,405 PatentedNov. 5, 1957 which, when depressed, causes a flexible movable contact toengage a fixed contact, the movable contact normally engaging a secondfixed contact. Thus the microswitch is provided with exterior terminalposts 16, 17 and 18 for connection respectively to the movable contactsand the first and second fixed contacts.

To operate actuator pin 15 there is provided a leaf spring 19, one endof which is integral with a bracket 20 riveted to the face of themicroswitch casing whereby the spring flexes about a point adjacent theupper right corner of the switch. Attached to the free end of leafspring 19 and rotatably supported between lugs 19 thereon is a roller21. The leaf spring is so tensioned that normally it is out ofengagement with actual pin 15.

Bracket 14 is provided at either side thereof with flanges 14a and 14bfor slidably supporting a shaft 22 which is disposed in parallelrelation to the microswitch and is in operative relation to roller 21.To form bearing surfaces for the shaft, the flanges 14a and 14b areprovided with aligned openings which are disposed in axial registrationwith an opening 10c in the rear wall of the grip, the shaft extendingtherethrough and terminating a push-button 23.

Shaft 22 is of cylindrical shape and has formed therein adjacent theinner end a section 22a of restricted diameter flanked by tapered camsurfaces 22b and 220. When the shaft is in its normal position, as shownin Fig. 1, the section 2211 is in alignment with roller 21, whereby theroller nestles therein and the leaf spring 19 is disengaged from theactuator pin. When push-button 23 is depressed to shift shaft 22 to theleft, the roller 21 rides down cam surface 220 to contact the surface ofshaft 22 which is of large diameter relative to section 22a whereby theleaf spring is caused to engage the actuator pin 15 to operate themicroswitch.

The vertical forces developed through depression of the leaf spring andthe actuator pin along with the frictional forces prevalent in the shaftprovide a relatively large locking force. It will be noted that thespring forces are vertical, whereas the frictional forces arehorizontal.

Thus the depression of button 23 effects actuation and locking of theswitch. To unlock and de-actuate the switch, it is necessary to pushshaft 22 to the right to an extent limited by a stop ring 24 secured tothe shaft and abutting flange 14b. This is effected by separate controlmeans in the form of a trigger member 25 projecting through the frontwall of grip 10. Trigger member 25 is included in a trigger switchassembly 12. Assembly 12 is supported on a mounting bracket 26 having aside flange 26:: from which projects a post 27 on which trigger member25 is pivotally mounted. The trigger switch is provided with an actuatorbutton 28 in operative relation with the heel 25a of the trigger member,such that when the member is rocked about its pivot, the button 28 isdepressed to operate the switch and when the trigger member is released,the button 28 reverts to its initial position to de-actuate the switch.

Attached to the underside trigger member 25 at the upper end 25b thereofand extending thereabove is a plate 29 which is engageable with thelower leg 30a of a step-shaped link 30. Link 30 also includes an upperleg 3% and a cross arm 30c connecting the legs, the upper leg beingengageable with the end of shaft 22. Arm 300 is pivotally connected to afulcrum 31 projecting from the flange 14a of the mounting plate 14 suchthat the link 30 acts as a class A lever. Thus when the trigger member25 is operated, plate 29 engages the lower leg 30a of the link to swingsame about fulcrum 31 and cause the upper leg 30b to engage shaft 22 andto push it to the right. Since the force developed by the link ishorizontal, it will override the horizontal frictional forces andbecause of the wedge effect on the shaft and roller, the shaft willshift axially to the right to unlock the microswitch.

It will be seen therefore that when the trigger switch 12 is actuated bydepressing the trigger member 25, the microswitch 11, if previouslyactuated and locked, will be unlatchedanddeactuated. Push-button 18whichprojects from the rear wall of thegrip housing b is .bestmanipulated by the thumb of the user whose fingers encircle the handle10a of the grip. The trigger member is best operated by the triggerfinger of the hand. Thus it is possible for the user in rapid successionto operate one and then the other switch, as desired. 7

While there has been shown what .is considered to be apreferredembodiment of the invention, it will be manife t tha many changesandmodifications may be made therein without departing from the essentialspirit of the invention. Itis intended, therefore, in the annexed claimsto cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the:truescope of theinvention.

What is claimed is:

l. A switching assembly comprising a first switch element provided witha depressible actuator pin to operate said switch, a shaftaxiallyshiftable from a first position to a second position and .having asection of restricted diameter, means operatively coupling said shaftand said pin and including a member which when said shaftis-in its firstposition nestles in said section whereby said pin isunactuated and inthe second position of said shaftbears against the larger portion ofsaid shaft thereby to depress said pin, operator means adapted to engageone end of said shaft to shift'same from said first position tosaidsecond position, separate operator means adapted to-engage the otherendof said shaft to shift samefrom said second position to said firstposition, and a second switch-element operatively coupled tosaidseparate operator means and actuated thereby whereby, when said secondswitch element is actuated, the pin of said first element is unactuated.

'2. A switching assemblycomprising a firstswitch element provided withan actuator pin and a leaf spring having a roller supported at oneendthereof, said roller being adapted when flexed downwardly to depresssaid pin to operate said switch, a shaft axially shiftable from a firstposition to a second position, said shaft being operatively disposedrelative to said roller and having a section of restricted diameter sodisposed that when said shaft is in its first position it nestles saidroller to effect disengagement of said spring from said pin, said rollerin the second position of said shaft bearing against the larger portionof said shaft thereby to flex said spring to depress said pin, firstoperator means adapted to engage one end of said shaft to shift sameaxially from said first'position to said second position, second andseparate operator means adapted to engage the other end of said shaft toshift samefrom said second position to said first position, and a secondswitch element operatively coupled to said separate operator means andactuated thereby whereby, when said second switch element is actuated,the pin of said first element is unactuated.

3. A switching device comprising a grip, a switch assembly disposedwithin said grip and including a first switch element provided with anactuator pin and a leaf spring having a roller supported at one endthereof and adapted when flexed downwardly to depress said pin tooperate said switch, a shaft axially shiftable from a first position toa second position, said shaft being operatively disposed relative tosaid roller and having a section of restricted diameter which when saidshaft is in its first position accommodates said roller to effectdisengagement of said spring and saidpin,;said roller in the secondposition .of said shaft bearing against the enlarged portion ofsaidshafttherebyto flexusaid spring to depresssaidpin,operator meansbn one.walLof said adapted to shift said shaft axially from said firstposition to said second position, separate operator means on anotherwall of said grip adapted to engage the other end of said shaft to shiftsame from said second position to said first position, and a secondswitch element operatively coupled to said separate operator means andactuated thereby whereby, when said second switch element is actuated,the pin of said first element is unactuated. 7 V

4. A switching device comprisingp grip provided with front and rearwalls and having an handle portion and a housing portion, a switchassembly disposed within said housing portion and including .a firstswitch element provided with an actuator pin anda leaf spring having aroller supported at one end thereof and adapted when flexed downwardlyto depress said pin to operate said switch, a shaft axially shiftablefrom a first position to a second position, said shaft .beingoperatively glisposed relative to said rollerrand having a section ofrestricted diameter which when said shaft is in its first positionaccommodates said roller to effect disengagement of said spring and saidpin, said roller in the second position of said shaft bearing againstthe enlarged portion of said shaft therebyto'fiex said spring todepresssaid pin, one end of said shaft projecting through the rear wall of saidgrip, apush'button attached to said one end of said shaftto shift same.from said first position to said second position, operator meansmounted on the front end of said grip adapted to engage theother end ofsaid shaft to shift same from said second position to said firstposition, and a second switch element operatively coupled to saidseparate operator means and actuated thereby whereby, when said secondswitch-element is actuated, the pin of said first elementis unactuated.

5. A switching device comprising a grip provided with front-and rearwalls and having a handle portion and a housingportion, a switchassembly disposed within said housing portion and including a switchelement pro vided with an actuator pin and-a leaf spring having a rollersupported at one end thereof and adapted when flexed downwardly'todepress said pin to operatesaid switch, a shaft axially shiftable from afirst position to a second position, said shaft being operativelydisposed relative to said roller and having a section of restricteddiameter which when said shaft is in its first position accommodatessaid roller to effect disengagement of said spring and said pin, saidroller in the second position of said shaft bearing against the enlargedportion of said shaft thereby to flex said spring to depress said pin,one end of said-shaft projecting through the rear wall of said grip, apush bottom attached to said one end of said shaft to shift same axiallyfrom said first position to said second position, whereby the upwardpressure of said spring against said shaft locks said switch, a triggermember pivotally mounted on the front end of said grip, lever meansoperated by said trigger member adapted to engage the other end of saidshaft to shift same from said second position to said first position,and a second switch assembly supported within said housing and includingan actuatorbutton in operative relation ,with said trigger member.

6. A device, as set forth in claimj, wherein said trigger has a pusherplate attached to the underside thereof, and said lever means isconstituted by a pivotally mounted step-shaped element having .an upperleg adapted to engage said other end of said shaft, the pusher platebeing engageable with thelower leg of said lever element to cause saidupper leg to engage said shaft.

References Cited in thefile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,326,232 Krieger Aug. 10, 1943 2,504,331 ,;,Bordelon s s r Apr. 18,1950

